Oct 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Music Therapy - Major (Bachelor of Music)


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This degree prepares students for a career in the music therapy profession. Completion of the degree coursework, which includes a 1020-hour internship, results in eligibility to sit for the national certification examination in music therapy. Successful completion of the examination results in the Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) credential awarded by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Students find employment as therapists in public and private institutional settings as well as in private practice. Students may also matriculate to graduate programs.

The music therapy major program, approved by the American Music Therapy Association, includes course work in music, music therapy, and social sciences, in addition to clinical training practicum experiences with at least three different client populations and the Nazareth Liberal Arts Core. Music Therapy students take a full Music core, culminating in a senior recital.

Grades in all music therapy courses must be B- or above and students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.7.

The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy requires a minimum of 127 credits.

Core Curriculum Requirements


All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures  for specific core curriculum requirements. 

Bachelor of Music Core


All students in the School of Music must take:

  • MUX 019 - Concert Attendance Credits: 0 (4 semesters)
  • MUX 099 - Music Department Orientation Credits: 0
  • MUP 1_ - Weekly, one hour private lessons (8 semesters)
  • ENS 0_ - Major Ensemble Credits Available: 0, .5, or 1 (8 semesters; 7 semesters Instrumental in Music Education)
  • MUX 49_ Senior Recital Credits: 0

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree must take the following (in addition to the courses listed above):

Music Therapy Major Requirements


In addition to the music core requirements listed above,  Music Therapy students are required to take the following music lessons.

  • MUP 2A - Secondary Voice Credits: 1 (waived for voice primary students) 

Upper Division Music Electives


Elective Requirements by Program

  • Bachelor of Arts in Music - complete one upper division music elective from either Music Theory or Music History
  • Bachelor of Music in Composition - complete three upper division music electives
  • Bachelor of Music in Music Education - complete one upper division music elective from either Music Theory or Music History
  • Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy - complete one upper division music elective (three credits)
  • Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (Voice) - complete one upper division music electives in Music Theory and one upper division elective in Music History
  • Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (Piano, Instrumental) - complete four upper division music electives; at least one must be in Music Theory and one must be in Music History

Music Therapy Internship


The Music Therapy Internship is a minimum of 1020-hour internship at an American Music Therapy Association or a  Nazareth approved clinical training center. Application is made upon departmental approval. In most cases, students are considered full-time students during their internship. Diploma will be awarded upon completion of internship.

Music Senior Experience


The culminating senior course for the BM in Music Therapy is the Senior Recital, an experiential learning course engaging students in demonstrating the practical application of knowledge and skills acquired in the study of applied music, music history, music theory and the liberal arts.

  • MUX 49_ Senior Recital Credits: 0

Sample Program for the Music Therapy Major


SAMPLE PROGRAM - BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN MUSIC THERAPY
FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
MUX 099 School of Music Orientation   0 PSY.Q 110 Introduction to Psychological Science  PEQ (2) 3
MUX 019 Concert Attendance   0 ENGW 102 Argument and Research   3
ENGW 101 Exposition   3 PEQ (3) 3
ACS 101 Academic and College Success   1 MUX 019 Concert Attendance   0
FYS - PEQ (1) 3 MUS 124 Music Theory II   3
MTR 102 Orientation to Music Therapy   1 MUS 126 Aural Skills II   1
MUS 123 Music Theory I   3 MUG 132 Piano Class II * 1
MUS 125 Aural Skills I      1 MUG 282 Guitar Techniques II + 1
MUG 131 Piano Class I * 1 MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons  1
MUP 2A Secondary Voice Lessons** 1 ENS __ Major Ensemble .5-1
MUG 281 Guitar Techniques I   1 MTR 105 Introduction to Clinical Uses of Music in Therapy   1
ENS __ Major Ensemble .5-1    
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons  1    
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16.5-17 TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 17.5-18
 
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
MTR 201 Principles of Music Therapy    3 MTR 202 Methods and Materials in Music Therapy   3
SWK 305 Theory and Human Development   3 PEQ (4) 3
Health & Wellness 0 MUS 212 The History of Western Music II: The Baroque Period to the Late Nineteenth Century   3
MUX 019 Concert Attendance   0 MUS 224 Music Theory IV   3
MUS 211 The History of Western Music I: Antiquity to the Baroque Period        3 MUS 226 Aural Skills IV   1
MUS 223 Music Theory III   3 MUG 232 Piano Class IV   1
MUS 225 Aural Skills III   1 MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons 1
MUG 231 Piano Class III   1 ENS __ Major Ensemble .5-1
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons 1 MTR 204 Percussion for Music Therapy   1
MED 103 Percussion Techniques I   1 MUX 019 Concert Attendance   0
ENS __ Major Ensemble .5-1 MUX 229 Practicum Prerequisite Assessment (Music Therapy) ++ 0
MUX 229 Practicum Prerequisite Assessment (Music Therapy) + 0 MUX 232 Keyboard Proficiency Exam ++ 0
       
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16.5-17 TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16.5-17

     *    waived for piano primary students
     **  waived for voice primary students
     +   MUX 277 and 229 are prerequisites for MTR 331
     ++
piano and aural skills proficiencies  at this time, and are prerequisites for MTR 431

 
JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
MTR 302 Psychology of Music       3 MTR 360 Instrumental Methods and Repertoire for Music Therapists   3
MTR 331 Practicum I ++ 1 MTR 332 Practicum II ++ 1
MTR 311 Clinical Improvisation in Music Therapy   2 BIO 235 Fund of Human Anatomy & Physiology   3
MUG 143 Practical Application of Voice for Music Therapy  1 MUS.Q 104 Introduction to World Music  PEQ VPA (6) 3
MUS 317 The History of Western Music III: Music Since 1900   3 PEQ (7) 3
PEQ (5) Science with Lab 4 MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons 1
MUG 331 Functional Piano for Music Therapists   1 MUS 272 Introduction to Conducting   1
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons  1 ENS __ Major Ensemble .5-1
ENS __ Major Ensemble .5-1 MUX 329 Internship Prerequisite Assessment * 0
    MUG 336 Advanced Functional Guitar   1
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16.5-17 TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 16.5-17
 
 
SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester Spring Semester
MTR 401 Influence of Music on Behavior       3 MTR 402 Music in Therapy   3
MTR 431 Practicum III ++ 1 MTR 403 Research in Music Therapy   2
Integrative Studies (IS) or minor course 3 MTR 432 Practicum IV ++ 1
PSY 343 Abnormal Psychology   3 CME 050 Core Milestone Experience   0
Integrative Studies/DEIB (IS/DEIB) 3 PEQ (8) 3
PSY 200 Statistics and Research Methods for Clinical Practice   3 (Integrative Studies (IS) or minor course) (3)
MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons 1 Upper Division Music Elective 3
ENS __ Major Ensemble .5-1 ENS __ Major Ensemble .5-1
    MUP 1_ Performance Primary Lessons 1
    MUX 49_ Senior Recital/Project (Experiential Learning) 0
TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 17.5-18 TOTAL SEMESTER CREDITS 13.5-17
 
SEMESTER 9+
MTR 483 Music Therapy Internship   0 MTR 483 may be repeated to complete internship requirements 0
 

Integrated Studies: Choose 3 upper division courses (only one may be from MTR) to consider together in the Core Milestone Experience (CME 050). Work with your advisor and faculty from your chosen courses to develop this culminating project in the liberal arts.

*      MUX 329 is a prerequisite for MTR 483 and internship recommendations from the faculty and must be passed before students can apply for an internship

**    waived for voice primary students

+    MUX 282 and MUX 229 are prerequisites for MTR 331

++ Music therapy practicum placements for MTR 331, MTR 332, MTR 431, and MTR 432 may require clearance requirements such as (but not limited to) health screening, vaccinations, and background checks

 

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